Musical instrument



Aug# 4, 1931 o. M. osBoRNE 1,817,704

` MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed July 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug' 4, 1931. ko. M. osBoRNE 1,817,704

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed July 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y IN VEN TOR. ZIQu-e/MJIW a ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1931.

O. M. OSBORNE 4 lSheets-Sheet 5 Filed July A INVENToR. 4 glio-er1 Jorn/e I W 'ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1931. o. M. osBoRNE 1,817,704

` MUSICAL INSTRUMENT n Fied Julyl 25, 1928 4 SheetS-Sheet 4 i? "35 i6 l 1 a S14/vanto@ Patented Aug. 4,r 41931 PATENT OFFICE OLIVER M. os'BonNE; or MADISON, WISCONSIN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application led July 25,

'Ilhisinvention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to instruments for electrically reproducing the previously recorded tones of any particular instrument -desired and in any desired combination of tones.' y A One of the objects of the invention is to provide means which may be controlled by a lcomparatively unskilled operator to reproduce the tones of any selected singer or Amusical instrument in any sele ted combina? tion of notes. Further objects are to provide for control of such a reproducing means by manually operatedke s similar to those pf a I13 vpiano forte. so as to lie loperable by 'anyone -skilled in; playing a piano or organ, and to provide controlling means which will he portable to permit the operator to be at a ('fonsiderable distance' from the apparatus. A still further object of the'invention is to provide apparatus of this type whichmay be easily operated and controlled by a light touch and will produce a volume of sound readily ladjustable within wide limits. Other objects of the inventiomas well as-the features of novel-ty in structure, arrangement of parts, and operation, will be' apparent -from the following specification when' read with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an' embodiment ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a ph sical embodiment ofthe invention, one en ofthe casingbeing removed to show the arrangement of the parts; y

3 'is a View in frontlelevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2, apart of the front wall being-broken away; z n

vFig. 4 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of cer- V tain parts as adapted for us'e with disk records; and` f f Fig.5 is a detail view of one of the electromagnetic pick up devices shown in Figs. 1to4'. v

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view showing a portion of the connections for adjusting the pick up devices; ya

Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing the con- 1928. Serial No. 295,213.

nections foroperating the indicator which indicates the instrument to be reproduced;

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view of the pick up mounting shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail elevational view ofthe 554 connections for altering the positions 'of the pick up devices as arranged'in Fig. 4;

. Figs. 10 and 11 are elevational and top plan views, respectively,'of the connections for manipulating the shutters for controllingl .the volume ofthe tones. reproduced by the present device.

In eneral, the invention contemplates providmg a number of sets of tone records, each record representing a singlel sustained tone and those ofeach set representing the various notes ofthevscale as produced by a selected voice or musical instrument or selected'combination of voices or instruments.

A` series of pickup devices arearranged 'to register with all ofthe records of any one set and to be shifted as desired to re ister. with all of the records of an other se ected set, Vthe type of pickup epending upon the t of tone recordv used. In theA di's- 75 close embodiment tone 'records similar'to the general type now used for phonographic reproduction areemployed, the pick up comprising a stylus engagedin the record grooves actuating the armature of a miniature electric nerator in laccordance with the vibrations-imparted bythe oove walls. The VYelectric currentfrom suc pick u devices is controlled by a set of manual y controlled switches, preferably arranged like the keys of a piano forte keyboard, and the currents from the particular switches i which are closed at any instant passin fto common bus bars and thence to an ampfying 'device of the audion type and bein 90' translated to4 sound by any suitable lou speaker.

As shown schematically in Fig. 1, lthe invention may be applied to use a pluralityof series of records made upon a cylindrical member 11, which is somewhat similar to the usual cylindrical phonograph record but differs therefrom in that each groove is a complete closed ringand does not travel axially 'of thev cylinder. The tonev records of the 100 chromatic scale are made in any desired ,manner upon the cylinder, being arranged in series and spaced from each other as indicated at C, Cji, D, Dqtjr, etc., all of such records of each scale made'by one instrument constitutinga series of any desired range. In other words, one group of each series of records is made by a selected instrument until records have been made of all instruments or voices it may be desired to reproduce.

The cylinder 11 ismounted for rotation in bearings 12 and preferably driven by an electric motor 13-, having an adjustable resistance 14 Jfor regulating its speed. Vhere tone records of the type illustrated are used,

there is provided a support 15 on which a plurality of arms 16 are pivotally mounted, each carrying at its end an electric pick up device or reproducer 17 there being one pick up device for each note of the range determined upon. For instance,.if it is desired to reproduce notes of a range of-'ive octaves, it would benecessary to utilize sixtyone pick up devices. The wires 18 leading from any one pick up device are con-v nected to bus bars 19, a resistance 2O controlled by a lever arm 21 and a switch 22, which is normally open but is operable by a key 23, being connected in series with the pick up device. A link 24 is connected to all lever arms 21 to operate them in unison, the link itself being operably connected to a pedal 25 by a flexible member 26, or other suitable means, and a spring 27 bein connected to the link 24 to resist the action of operable by anyone trained in the playing of a piano or organ. However, particularly for stage use, it may be preferable to use a keyboard of compact design such as those used on accordions, and it will be understood that the keyboard requires no connection to the rest 'of the apparatus except the Wires 18, 28 and 29, which may be embodied ina cable of suitable length, so that the keyboard will be portable to a limited extent.

In order to provide for shifting the pick up devices 17 from the records of the notes made by one particular instrument to the Vrecords of the corresponding notes as made by another instrument, a sliding bar`33 is arranged under the arms 16 and is provided -fwithv lateral projecting ,ineans suelias a Ibar ...Whit-,h is rigid., with Tue; :baises-"and adapted to be engaged with'tlie arms' '16`by rotation of the bar 33, there being a slight recess 35 in each of the arms 16 into which one of a number of projections 36 on the bar 34 will engage to swing the arms about their pivots as the bars 33 and 34 move lengthwise. The bar 33 is mounted in suitable bearings 37 and is provided with a spring 38 at one end, tending to move it in one direction. The other end of the bar 33 is threaded and provided with a rotating knob 39, which has a key 40, received in a key-way 41 in the bar, by which the bar may be rotated, and the bar 33 is also provided with an operating knob 42, threaded thereon, by rotation of which the bar may be moved longitudinally. A suitable indicating means is provided to be actuated by the lengthwise movement of the bar 33, being shown in Fig..1 as consisting of a. lever 43 having one end connected to the bar 33 and its other end formed with an arcuate rack 44 in mesh with a gear wheel 45, which carries an indicating needle 46 along an arcuate scale 47, which may be inscribed with indicia representing the various instruments. Bar 33 and lever 43 are connected to each other by a pin 143 working in a slot 144 in said lever and the end of the lever is preferably curved to permit rocking oflsaid bar.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the apparatus may be conveniently arranged in a casing 48, with a projecting front portion 49 below the keys 23, and having an opening 50 in which the loud speaker 32 is emplaced. 'lhe amplifying unit 31 may be conveniently supported upon a shelf 5l which projects inwardly from the front Wall, and the means for supporting and adjusting the pick up devices, as well as the resistances for controlling the sound volume, may be carried upon a second 'shelf 52, which projects forwardly from the rear wall. The top'of the casing is hinged at 53 to the body of the casing to permit access for adjustment and repair of the parts, and if desired the operating knobs 39 and 40 may be placed on the outside of the casing for more lconvenient access, and a si ht opening may be provided to render the indicating means 47 visible without lifting the cover.

The .pick up'devices 17, as shownin detail in Fig. 5, consist essentially 'of a horseshoe magnet 54 mounted in a compact metallic casing 55, and a` vibrating magnetic reed 56, held at one end by a very iexible spring 57 and extending between the pole pieces of the magnet 54, and damped by a rubber damper 58. The fend of the reed 56 is provided with a socket 59 in which a needle 60 may be detachably secured, and a coil 61 of tine insulated wire surrounds the reed so that varying current is induced in the coil by the movement of the needle and reed 56. It will be understood that the pickupf `devices may Se meimtedes .t0 hreaminffiumf lifes# sure againstthe record,"andth`atsimilar de-" vices such as the capacity coupled pick up devices may be utilized instead of the electromagnetic device shown. v

In Fig. 4, the various parts shown are identical with those shown in Fig. 1, except that the mounting for and means for adjusting the arms 16 are. altered to permit the use of fiat disk records. A bar 62, having arms 63 pivoted thereto and passing under the arms 16, is mounted upon a threaded vertical post which extends upward through the center of the record 71, but does not rotate with it. A knob 64 is fixed upon the vertical post and has a swivel connection with the bar 62, so that by rotation of the knob 64, members 62 and 63 ma be raised to Contact with and raise all o the arms 16, the bars 63 being provided with small projections or teeth which enter slight conical recesses 66 in the underside of the arms 16. A second bar extends at an angle to bars 63 above the, arms 16 and has a threaded end which is slidably mounted in a lug 67 at the end of one of the arms 63, the other end of bar 65 being pivoted to and spaced vertically from the end of the other member 63 at 63. A spring 68 surrounds'the bar 65 between a projection 69 thereon and the lug 67 to move the bar 65 in one direction, and an operating knob 70 is threaded upon the bar 65-and engages the lug 67, so that it may be rotated to move the bar 65 and hence all of the arms 16 and pick up devices simultaneously.

As is shown in the two embodiments illustrated, it is preferred that the pick up devices be adjustable relatively to the tone records, although it is possible, of course, that this relative movement for changing` the instrument to be reproduced may be accomplished in other ways.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that vby properly adjusting the relative positions of the pick up devices and the records, the tones of any one desired instrument may be reproduced vby actuation of the keys of the keyboard. In'this connection it is to be understood that while the tones of any one instrument are being reproduced, the so-called pick up,devices are operatively associated with the-tone records and 'retain this operative relationship with the records until the parts are again adjusted to reproduce the tones of a different instrument. Such operative association is, however, not to be construed as involving actual contact of pick up with record, jsince other methods of sound reproduction are well known which employ records and pick up devices which are operatively associated without actual wearing contact.

This invention consists broadly of a plu- `rality of series of tone records, each series representing the tones of a distinct instrument or group of instruments, a plurality of devices operatively associated with the tone records for picking up the recorded tones of one series and impressing a faithful translation ofeach tone of the series upon one of a plurality of electric circuits, a plurality of switches arranged in keyboard order, each switch controlling the continuity of one circuit, and an electrical sound producing apparatus controlled by the circuits for faithfully translating into sound the electrical undulations set up in the circuits the switches of which are closed. While several embodiments of the invention have been. illustrated employing records and pick up devices of the groove and stylus type, it is to be understood that such forms are for the purpose of illustration only, and I contemplate the use of other methods of reproduction now well known in this art. I, therefore, claim my invention broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

'What I claimy is :-4

1. A device for reproducing tones of any one of a plurality of instruments comprising a plurality of series of tone records the records of each series being produced by different instruments, a plurality of electrical pick-up devices, means for 'effecting relative movement between said records and said pick-up devices,l electrically operated transating means, a keyboard, and a. switch carried by each key of said keyboard, each switch controlling the connection of one pick-up device to the translating means said pick-up devices being constantly actively associated with-said tone records during the reproduction of the tones of any one instrument.

2. A device for reproducing tones of any one of a plurality of instruments comprising records of the tones of a plurality of instruvments grouped in coincident scales, a plurality of electrical pick-up devices, means for ei'ecting relative movement between said records and said pick-up devices, electrically operated translating means, means for selectively controlling the connection between said pick-up devices and said translating means, and means for effecting relative movement between said records and said pick-up devices to bring said vpick-up devices froml 'comprising means bearing records of the tones of a -plurality of instruments grouped in coincident scales, a plurality of electrical pick-up devices spaced to register with and constantly operatively associated with the records of the various tones of a selected instrument, means for rotating said record bearing means, means for shifting said'pickup devices from registry with the records otI one instrument to registry with the records oi another instrument, electrically operated translating means, and means for selectively controlling the connection between said pickup devices and said translating means.

4. A device for reproducing tones of any desired one ot a plurality of instruments comprising records of the tones of a plurality ot instruments grouped in coincident scales, a plurality of electrical pick-up devices constantly operatively associated with the tone records, means for effecting relative movement between said records and said pick-up devices to produce current variations in said pick-up devices, power amplifying means, translating means in the output circuit ot said power amplifying means, a keyboard, and a switch' operable by each key of said keyboard and controlling the connection ot the corresponding pick-up device with said power amplifying means.

5. A device for reproducing tones of any desired one of a plurality of instruments comprising records of the tones of a plurality of instruments grouped in coincident scales, a plurality ot' electrical pick-up devices constantly operatively associated with the records of said tones, means for effecting relative movement between said records and said pick-up devices to produce current variations in said pick-up devices, power amplii'ying means, translating means in the output circuit of said power amplifying means, a keyboard, a plurality of switches each controlling the connection of one of said pick-up devices with said power amplifying means and operable by one of the keys of said keyboard, and means for relatively shifting said records and said pick-up devices to bring theI pick-up devices into registry with the records of another instrument.

(i. A. device for reproducing tones of any desired one of a plurality of instruments comprising records of the tones of a plurality ot instruments grouped in coincident scales, a plurality or' pick-up devices constantly operatively associated with said tone records, means for effecting relative movement between said records and said pick-up devices, a common sound reproducer for all of vsaid pick-up devices, means for selectively controlling the connection of said pick-up devices to said reproducer, and means for ettecting relative movement between said records and said pick-up devices from registry with the records of one instrument into registry with'the records of another instrument.

7. A device for reproducing tones of any desired one of a plurality of instruments comprising records of the tones of a plurality ot instruments grouped -in coincident scales, a plurality of pick-up devices constantly operatively associated with said tone records,

means for moving said records vpast said pick-up devices, means for moving said pickup devices from registry with the records of one instrument into registry with the records of another' instrument, and indicating means operable by said means for moving the pickup devices.

8. A device for reproducing tones of any desired one ot a plurality of instruments comprising tone records, a plurality of electrical pick-up devices constantly operatively associated with said tone records, means for eit'ecting relative movement between said records and said pick-up devices to produce current variations in said pick-up devices, electrically operated translating means, means for selectively controlling the connection of said pick-up devices to said translating means, and manually operated means for varying the amplitude of the current variations.

9. A device for reproducing tones of any desired one of a plurality of instruments comprising tone records, a plurality of electrical pick-up devices constantly operatively associated with said tone records, means for eli'ecting relative movement between said records and said pick-up devices to produce current variations in said pick-up devices, electrically operated translating means, means for selectively controlling the connection ot said pick-up devices to said translating means, a resistance in circuit with each piek-up device to vary the amplitude of the current variations therein, and common means for regulatingr all of said resistances.

OLIVER M. OSBORN E.

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